Chapter 10
“How do I look?” I turned in the mirror and checked out my ass.
I ran my hands down the sleek dress, over the cutaways that left my heated skin like a peek-a-boo for pervs.
Step one for blending in: give your target something to look at to lull them into a false sense of security.
If it made Beck falter, even better. His deadly promise still echoed in my ear, and I wasn’t looking forward to seeing any of them again.
“Delicious, as always. Beck might actually show emotion on his face.” Adelaide joked from the hotel bed.
I snatched a fry from her plate. “I’d love to see him choke.”
Adelaide swatted my hand with a growl and dragged the room service meal close to her.
We spent the entire afternoon in the luxurious hotel suite.
First, deciding what outfit to wear, and next, having a red wig attached and styled.
The silky half-up, half-down style made me almost unrecognizable.
The green contacts and chunky earrings helped too.
“You think he’ll be able to concentrate with you looking like that?”
“I don’t care. I’m here to do a job.”
I’d explained everything Ellington had shown me and given her all the evidence we had about The Unseen. She knew where I stood with Beck, Ray, and Jonah. To say the journey we’d had fascinated her was an understatement.
Adelaide let out a sigh. “Nice try. Now that I know the story between you two, I don’t think he’ll stop until you belong to him again.
You couldn’t stop at a former playboy or my most loyal guard?
You’ve got a heartless monster obsessed with you.
Have they given up camping outside Ellington’s apartment? ”
“Nope.”
I perched on the edge of the bed and dragged my heels on. Of course, Beck wouldn’t listen when I told him to leave me alone. All three of them took shifts sleeping outside, and I’d given up arguing with them.
Adelaide fussed with one of my tangled locks.
“They aren’t my focus right now. Getting Greenich Bay safe for you is.”
And getting revenge for my dead mom. I’d never get the years back I spent serving The Unseen, but I could damn well use the skills I learned to destroy them.
A knock interrupted our conversation, and Adelaide clapped her hands with anticipation.
I steeled my unsteady stomach as I opened the door.
Beck fidgeted with his black bow tie. A silver wolf covered his face.
The nose jutted out, and his mouth was visible underneath bared teeth.
He wore a black tuxedo with a crisp white button-down shirt and black bow tie.
His dangerous energy overshadowed the plain elegance.
I pulled on my copper fox mask. It covered only half my face, but gave me a coquettish air with its whirled lines for fur and playful, pointed ears.
“I sent you matching masks.” Beck’s disgruntled tone was muffled.
“Good luck. Don’t kill each other, please.” Adelaide called as I closed the door and swept past Beck.
“Where are Jonah and Ray?” I asked as we slid into the empty elevator.
“Waiting in the car.” Beck crossed his arms over his chest. After the movement, he let out a soft hiss.
The elevator’s rumble made me reach out and grab the handrail. The black tide of panic didn’t descend, and I wondered if I was past my fear. Having been through the worst of it a second time, what was an elevator in comparison?
“What’s wrong?”
“Pulled my chest at the gym yesterday.” Beck stretched with a grimace.
Good.
I liked the idea of Beck being in pain. It was the least karma could do.
When I got in the car, Jonah and Ray let out appreciative whistles. They were wearing open-mouthed versions of Beck’s wolf, but the jaw gaped open, and sharp silver teeth glinted.
“Volpe mia, you look like Jessica Rabbit.” Ray dragged his gaze down my body until my skin prickled.
“I’m a fox, not a rabbit. Is that even a compliment?”
“Have you seen her? She’s too sexy for a cartoon.” Jonah shared a nod with Ray.
Since the two of them were seated together in the back, I took the front.
There was something different about them.
Maybe I was being paranoid, but it seemed like their enmity had been forgotten.
Even more, their friendship had crossed into mutual respect and care.
What did it matter if they found solace with each other?
I’d been stupid to think there was a world we could be together, and I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
“We’re here.” Beck pulled the car to a stop. “Do you remember the plan?”
I forced my lungs to fill and muscles to relax. With Beck’s mask, I couldn’t tell how much he enjoyed the idea of making me fawn over him all night. Maybe he thought I’d balk. I’d prove he was nothing to me now.
“Don’t worry, I’ll play your slutty little pet tonight. You glean as much info about these corrupt pigs as possible.”
I slammed the car door, but Beck only gave me a second of reprieve before he stepped in front of me again.
“Do I have permission to touch you?” His question tickled my ear.
Ray and Jonah pressed behind us, curious about my answer.
I inspected the bluestone path instead, dotted with warm orbs of light.
It led into a modern-looking mansion set against the side of a hill.
Lights flickered in the shadows, guards patrolling.
They were visible security, but I knew there would be more lurking unseen.
“Let’s get inside.”
Beck circled his fingers around my wrist and tucked it into the crook of his elbow.
“Not so fast, Little Liar. Tell me it’s okay for me to put my hands all over you tonight.”
Cigarette smoke drifted from an off-duty server, who watched us with interest. I wrapped my arms around Beck’s neck and leaned in close enough for him to taste the garlic on my breath. I intentionally ordered the most potent thing from the room service menu in preparation for tonight.
“You can get close, but I won’t make it pleasant for you.”
Ray let out a soft laugh before Jonah elbowed him in the side, and we walked to the guarded entry. It still didn’t seem as protected as I expected. Beck leaned close to explain.
“Not all security is obvious, like that guy out front smoking. He’s just another agent.”
I spread my arms out wide as a security guard patted me down. Hiding anything was impossible in my revealing dress. But he checked my chest twice, just in case.
“That’s enough,” Beck snapped as he headed in the direction for a third time.
The guard backed off, hands raised.
“Fucking creep,” I muttered under my breath.
“I’ll break his fingers before we leave,” Jonah whispered as he and Ray walked ahead.
Two raised burnished bronze bowls marked the entryway, and out the top wafted a trickle of smoke, sandalwood, earth, and berries.
In the corner, the DJ stared down at his deck.
No-one was on the small dance floor of illuminated tiles.
The thumping pulse of music muffled the hushed conversations that filled the room.
Beck snatched two glasses of red wine off a passing tray and pressed one into my hand.
“I’m not drinking.”
“Pretend like everyone else is.” Beck gulped his drink before heading toward a white-haired man who stood alone by the wall. “Go powder your nose, sweetheart.”
He patted my ass and sent me off in the opposite direction.
I waggled my fingers and tittered for good measure.
Beck had the disadvantage of being known to the rest of the council, especially as we tried to pinpoint who possible corrupt members were.
I knew tonight would involve networking, conversations that meant nothing but posturing.
Tonight was the only night The Unseen let loose a yearly celebration of the work they did to keep crime organizations in line, and pad their pockets. Even secret societies needed a chance to blow off steam. The only rules were no shop talk and no real names.
I peeked behind me to see Jonah and Ray in their wolf masks lurking at a close distance, should I need them. I found the bathroom, interrupting a lady applying her lipstick. She had a peacock mask perched on her hooked nose.
“Nice mask.” She nodded in the mirror, and her voice sounded raspy, as if her vocal cords were fried.
I thanked her and ducked into the cubicle.
My bladder was fine, but I didn’t need someone walking in on me.
I fiddled with my chunky bracelet to remove the interface and reveal my miniature computer.
My custom code, which I designed, was already loaded to scan the party for Bluetooth signals and hack into the broadcasts, collecting whatever data it could.
It would transfer to a larger memory bank hidden on Ray.
He wasn’t pleased about the optics of wearing lifted shoes until I told him he could pull off anything with his handsome face.
It meant that Beck could talk in circles with all his crooked cronies, and I’d collect everything we needed without them even realizing it. I snapped the bangle back together as I heard the bathroom door open.
When I reentered the party, there had been an influx of people, all wearing masks of different shapes and colors. In a back room, I found Beck seated at a table with two men, with a hand of cards resting against his chest. His lips kicked up when he saw me.
“Ah, there you are.” He patted his thigh.
I slipped into his lap and draped an arm around his neck. “Miss me?”
One man let out an appreciative whistle. He had a smooth mask painted with diamonds. Thin, sandy hair peeked from the top. “Who wouldn’t? Although I didn’t think you’d be careless enough to bring a date.”
“No business,” the other man said.
He had a mask that looked like flames. It rippled up over the side of his sharp jawline and flickered over his shadowed gaze. His jet-black hair glinted in the low light.
Beck’s hand traveled to my ass, and he kneaded the flesh with arrogance. I knew it was part act and part defiance, and so did he. Hell would freeze over before I let him touch me outside of this mission. He could have a reminder of what he lost.